Wichita eagle., 1887-12-28
The Engines We're Fired up and the
Loaded Cars Started to Their
Destinations.
The Men Seemingly Willing to 20 to
Work and Call it Square
and Even.
Superintendent Sweigard Denies that lie
Md Promises of Submitting the
Difficulty to an Arbitration
Committee PreSi-
dents Circular.


ploves assembled early this morning. and
after a secret session which lasted several
hours. decided 10 lift the great strike on
the Reading system pending arbitration
with the company. The five crews over
whom the trouble originated are to be sup
ported in the meantime by Hn&nclai aiu
from the employees. This decision was
reached after a conference with ioupefln-
tendent Sweigarl last night. The commit
tees then adjourned TO their meeting place
i'm Port Richmond, and after several hours
discussion decided to submit their case to
arbitration in the afternoon. Mr.. SweIg-
ard met the committee graclousiy ana as
sured them such plan would be entirely
agreeable to the Reading rail
road. There were present fourteen
members OF the committee, representing ali
sections of the road The decision of the
knights in Reading Yesterday mott o.Ntrike
is supposed to have had some influence on
the action Of the board. One u the com
mittee said this morning: We decided that
IL woulG De far better TO pay the i've
striking crews their wages thas jeopardize
so m&ny interests aJ this city. Mr..
Swiecard has always treated us square IL,
and we feel we can trust him. All SIDE
issues will be sunk and only the main
point in the dispute VIII be arbItrated up
on We have not yet agreed upon time
settled at the convenience of both sides,
buJ as speedily as possible We have sent
tcleprams to all our assemblies 10 resume
work at once. We feel that the public
Will declare our decision a wise one; cs
neciallv since the city might be so seriously
affected at the present time. We do not
anticipate any difficulty in settling the
matter.
NEW YORK. Dec 27.-1he following dis
patch from Philadelphia was received this
morning AT the office of the president of
the Reading company:
Every man returned this morning and
all trains are running as usual All the
engines were taxed out by the Old crews
and the superintendent says that by 10
o'clock all work will be going on as usual.
At all sections i'll the city men are show
ing up and present indications are that
business will be going on as usual.
Telegrams from Reading say that the
men reported for work this morning as
usual.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 27.-All trains are
running on the Reading railroad this
morning and no further trouble
is anticipated. Nearly all the
old employees reported for duty
promptly AT O'Clock, at the various de
partmentS in the freight yards as well as
those emplayed at the coal yards at Port
Richmond and there was very little evil
dence of the great strike which for the
past few days has threatened to paralyze
the business of the entire Reading railway
system. Quite a number of employees in
the various branches failed to report. but
the officials state that these have, perhaps,
been celebrating Christmas too enthuSi-
astically, and their places will be kept
open day OF two.
PoTTsviLLE, Pa, Dec 21-All usual
trains left this point this morning. The
report that the strike had been ordered off
created a great sensation here All inter
est now centres upon the action of the
bor which will assemble this afternoon to
consider the pending difference bet tween
miners and the Philadelphia x Reading
Coal and Iron company in the, question OF
wages.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 2I.-General Super
intendent Swcigard said this morning that
the statement that he had agreed with
the knights of Labor to submit the uueS-
tions in dispute to arbitration was inc0r-
rect He said last evening Il committee
rapresenting the employees Of The company
ralied at his Office and he talked with them
briefly regarding the threatened strike
He held out no Inducements to the meI,
however. and would not listen to the prop
osition which had for its object the rein
statement of the men VIII" had been dis
charged for refusing TO deliver cars to the
elevator These men, he said. had been
discharged and will never again be en-
ployed by the company. He SAYS
no agreement was proposed either by the
committee or by him. and that
the committee left when he Informed them
ne would hold no conversation regarding
the discharged men. \ reporter asked
Sweigard whether he proposed to take nm
the Port Richmond difficulty and submit
any questions involved there 10 arbitra-
hitratlon, TO which he terSely replied:
There l. nothing to submit There is one
thing in connection with this subject that
may as well he disposed nf right now. The
employees. on some of them have accused
the company of not living up to article
thirteen IN the agreement entered into
with the man last winter. which was To
the effect thar no man should be diScharg
ed without first having a hearing. Well.
about two months ago. three hrakemen re
fused 10 90 ont on train because one of
the men, conductor. was not a Knight of
Labor. / discharged the three men. and
when committee called on me and bag
Eed Ior their reinstatement | told them
that the company did not propose
To employ men who left their work
under such circumstances The committee
followed IN" all over Port Richmond and
pleaded their case. Finally agreed to re-
lhState the men after a suspension of three
months upon this condition. that the com
hhttee should 90 before every assembly OF
the order and say 10 the members that
hereafter amy emploEe who refused to per
form duty ywhen ordered hy an official. such
cmploye should he discharged and they
the hnightS of Labor should not appoint
any committee to seek an adjustment of
the matter OK require any explanation
Now. when Instructed the men az P0r;
Richmond to deliver cars consigned TO
Iaylor'S elevator, ana they refused | dis
charged them IN conformity with this
agreement. ana this fully answers the
complaint in regard 10 article thirteen.
Every man who has been DISCHARGED will
remain discharged, and never again be en-
ployed 10y this company"
fHlLADElPIiIA. Dee 21.-The following
circular was issued from the general Office
oi the Reading company this afternoon:
PHILAnFLPHIA. Dec .. 1881.
\ 4 Mcleod. ESQ. General Manager:
DEAR SIE:-Ihe strike ordered from
Port Richmond has developed the fact that
many of orr old and faithful employees
have been compelled by Others to ioin the
organization known aS the Knights or
Labor. The Reading railroad company
mas never objected to itS employees volun-
tanly connecting themselves with any
labor organization they may see fit to
l"ln. 1t will protect them at all hazards
ana at any cost from being
forced into any union whcrC
II Is their own wish TO remain free. and
any empioye OF this company or of thr coal
&nc iron company guilty of using any un-
une or improper influence upon ANY Of our
mea TO force them TO join any society
against their free will. will. upon proof
furnished us be Instantly dismissed from
our service, and never be allowed 10 return
70 1t; and anE employe furnishing such in
formation will be fully protected from any
harm by the officers thereof.
Please gave this notice TO the general
superintendent, with orders that il be ra-
peated TO the heads of every department of